In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court has rejected the Gujarat government’s plea seeking a review of its earlier decision to cancel the pardon granted to 11 men convicted in the 2002 rape and murder case involving Bilkis Bano’s family. The bench, consisting of Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan, found no merit in the appeal and dismissed it, affirming the previous court’s stance on the matter.
“Having carefully gone through the Review Petition, the order under challenge, and the papers annexed therewith, we are satisfied that there is no error apparent on the face of the record or any merit in the Review Petition, warranting reconsideration of the order impugned. The Review Petition is, accordingly, dismissed,” the bench stated.
The Gujarat government’s appeal had argued that the court’s findings, which criticized the state for “power grabbing” and “abuse of discretion,” were unfair. It referred to a May 2022 judgment that identified the Gujarat government as the competent authority to grant amnesty under the 1992 amnesty provision. The state contended that it was wrongly accused of being an “accomplice” to the accused, claiming that such allegations had caused significant prejudice to Gujarat.
Earlier, on January 8, the Supreme Court had ordered the immediate remand of the convicts and declared the Gujarat government’s amnesty order illegal. The court condemned the process through which the pardons were granted, describing it as a “fraud on the court” and highlighting various violations of legal norms.
Bilkis Bano was five months pregnant at the time of the violence following the Godhra train burning in February 2002. Tragically, her three-year-old daughter was among the seven family members who were brutally murdered. On August 15, 2022, the Gujarat government had controversially suspended the convictions of the 11 individuals, sparking widespread outrage and legal challenges.
This latest decision by the Supreme Court reinforces its commitment to justice in a case that has drawn national attention and highlighted the need for accountability in matters of violence and human rights violations.
